nonprofits
For many nonprofits, the mission is as strong as it's ever been. But the words and materials carrying it no longer do it justice. The work ends up getting lost in the noise, and donors are choosing to give elsewhere. For over a decade, I've built story-driven communications and brand strategy that helps mission-driven organizations stand out and show up strong across every touchpoint. I also understand the constraints of lean teams and limited resources firsthand, and how to overcome them to increase funding, retain supporters, and carry out the mission.
how I help
I start by listening to everyone the organization touches: the people it serves, the donors and volunteers who keep it running, and the staff and board who know it best. The goal is an organization the people inside recognize and the people outside believe.
Branding is about understanding what makes an organization distinct and putting it into words. That means listening to the people who know it best—staff, board, volunteers, donors, and the community it serves—and finding what sets it apart from others doing similar work. That becomes the foundation for how the organization talks about itself and how it looks.
Internal discovery
Landscape assessment
Brand strategy and positioning
Messaging pillars
Full rebrands
Brand guidelines
branding
Nonprofits tend to push out a lot of content—newsletters, appeals, annual reports, social posts—often because it's what’s always been done to spread the word. I start with a comprehensive examination of every piece of communication: its content, its purpose, its audience, and its impact. Then I build a strategic direction to rework the structure, and develop compelling content that follows so every piece and every touchpoint has a clear and effective purpose.
Communications audit
Communications infrastructure and design
Audience analysis
Fundraising communications
Email and newsletter content and strategy.
Website strategy and content
Launch and rollout
Fractional or part-time support
communications
Design is where the brand and strategy show up in the things people actually see: annual reports, appeals, event materials, the website, the newsletter. The goal is visual consistency and templates a lean team can reproduce in the long-term.
Fundraising materials: Annual reports, appeal collateral, and donor materials
Event and campaign materials: Invitations, signage, and printed collateral
Website: User experience, layout, and mockups; collaboration with web developers
Newsletter and email templates
Canva toolkits
visual design
recent projects
Tam High Foundation raises money to fill the gap between state funding and the costs necessary to educate students at Tamalpais High School. Like many school foundations, its biggest challenge is making the case clearly enough that families understand why their gift matters. I partnered with the board chair to lead communications strategy and content for the Foundation's annual fund. I started by building a structured communications calendar, so outreach follows a deliberate rhythm instead of going out piecemeal. From there, I wrote the campaign's appeal letters and newsletters with one goal in mind: turning more families into donors. That meant telling real stories of impact, showing where the money actually goes, and making clear that this campaign touches every student on campus, not just a few. The result was a campaign with a consistent voice, a clear plan, and a message families can rally behind.
Making the case for every student: tam high foundation
For 30 years, Southern Marin Mothers' Club has been a lifeline for parents of young children. Over time, its membership grew well beyond Southern Marin, and its brand hadn't kept up. I was brought in to lead a full rebrand, from research through launch. I started by interviewing board leaders, auditing the existing brand and peer organizations, and drawing on more than 400 survey responses from members and non-members. That research shaped a new name, Marin Moms Club, along with a reinvigorated mission, vision, and messaging pillars. From there, directed a complete visual identity system, website design, and set of easy-to-use templates so volunteers can keep the brand consistent long after launch.